Apparatus for turning over cartons

Abstract

An apparatus for turning bodies such as cardboard boxes or cartons or the ke, especially for use in a machine for packing envelopes into cartons, includes at least one bottom carrier which is tiltably driven about a horizontal axis, and at least one top carrier which may be tilted on top of the body to be turned over. At least one connecting member and journalling elements connect the two carriers with each other in such a manner that both carriers can be tilted together or in unison and so that one carrier can also be tilted independently of the other carrier by a respective drive or tilting member. At least one carton supporting lip protrudes from at least one of the carriers for holding the carton while it is being turned.

What I claim is: 
     
       1. An apparatus for turning a body (3), such as a carton, so that an initially downwardly facing side of said body faces in another direction when the turning is completed, comprising a machine frame (4), tiltable first carrier means (101) for contacting said body (3) on said downwardly facing side, first mounting means (103, 106) forming a first horizontal axis (103) for tiltably mounting said first carrier means (101) to said machine frame, tiltable second carrier means (102) for contacting another side of said body (3), intermediate connecting means (105) rigidly and nonpivotably attached to said first carrier means (101), whereby said first carrier means (101) and said intermediate connecting means (105) form a rigid unit (101, 105) which is tiltable about said first horizontal axis (103) formed by said first mounting means (103, 106), second mounting means (109, 110) forming a second horizontal axis (104) for tiltably mounting said second carrier means (102) to said intermediate connecting means (105), first tilting drive means (108) connected to said rigid unit (101, 105) for tilting both carrier means (101, 102) and said intermediate connecting means in unison about said first horizontal axis (103), and second tilting drive means (112) for tilting said second carrier means (102) about said second horizontal axis (104) independently of any tilting in unison by said first tilting drive means (108), whereby both drives participate in said turning. 
     
     
       2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a body holding member (113) attached to said second carrier means (102), said holding member projecting from said second carrier means (102) for supporting said body (3). 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said first carrier means (101) and said intermediate connecting means (105) are rigidly connected to each other at substantially a right angle to form approximately an inverted T-shape, and wherein said second mounting means (109, (110) journal said second carrier means (102) to a first free end (105a) of said intermediate connecting means (105). 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said second tilting drive means (112) comprises a piston cylinder device (112) and means for articulately connecting said piston cylinder device (112) between a fixed point of said rigid unit and said second carrier means (102). 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said intermediate connecting means (105) comprise a second free end (105b) which forms said fixed point to which one end of said piston cylinder device (112) is articulated, and wherein said second carrier means (102) comprise a lever arm (111) journalled to the other end of said piston cylinder device (12). 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of claim 1, comprising adjustment means for adjusting a spacing between said first carrier means (101) and said second carrier means (102). 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said adjustment means comprises a clamping bracket for adjustably rigidly interconnecting said intermediate connecting means (105) and said first carrier means (101), and a toothed rack and gear means cooperating for adjusting said first carrier means along said intermediate connecting means. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said intermediate connecting means comprise two connecting members arranged in parallel to each other, to tilt together about said first horizontal axis (103).